HERS Certifications & CALGreen Inspections

We offer ENERGY CODE COMPLIANCE (ECC) -- formerly known as HERS  (Home Energy Rating System Ratings) Certifications throughout the entire San Francisco Bay region. An ECC Rating is a requirement for many green building and energy efficient building standards prescribed by the CA Building CODE, Section Title 24.

ECC Rater Field Verifications and Certifications are mandated by the 2025 Buidling Energy Efficiency Standards - Title 24 of the California CALGREEN CODE.  Each T-24 or Energy Compliance Report (CR1R-PRF-01-E).

ECC Raters are defined as:  "Construction Workers who support the construction, operation, inspection, and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects (including housing construction)."

Energy Code Compliance (ECC) formerly known as Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is a process of administering diagnostic analysis to determine and produce data that provides a method of evaluation for a California State approved home energy efficiency ratings. This establishes a benchmark of a home's energy use and identifies necessary and/or best possible upgrades for homeowners.

J R CONSTRUCTION - SOL SOLUTIONS, Inc. is registered with CHEERS (www.calenergy.org).  Its CHEERS License is RCN13564.

ECC raters are independent contractors who are either independently operated or who sub-contract to larger energy rating firms. Raters charge their customers for site ratings and pay a fee to CHEERS, Inc. for processing the ratings and issuing certification.

J R CONSTRUCTION - SOL SOLUTIONS, INC. has the following training certifications with CHEERS:

• Building Performance Contractor (BPC)
• Residential Alterations Rater
• Refrigerant Charge Analyst (RCA-1 & II) Rater
• Newly Constructed Home Rater
• Non-Residential (Commercial) Buildings Rater
• Whole House ECC Rater
• ECC Quality Insulation Installation (QII)
• ECC PV (Solar) Rater
• Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) Rater 

J R Construction-Sol Solutions is among the first companies to be certified as a CalCERTS Building Performance Contractor (BPC) in the state of California (January 2012). This means that we are not only able to perform the Whole House Energy Performance Audit, but are also approved to perform the Home Performance Retrofit prescribed by the audit.

What are the Benefits of an ECC Certification?

A ECC Rating is a requirement for many green building and energy efficient building standards across the country, including ENERGY STAR for Homes. A ECC Rating is also a requirement for an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) and/or an Energy Improvement Mortgage (EIM).

CALGREEN SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

In addition to ECC Certifications, the CA Building Energy and Efficiency Standards - Title 24 specifies certain Mandatory Measures that all residential and commercial building projects must adhere to during the entire phase of its remodel or new construction project. Local building departments, both city and county throughout the state of CA, have created a CALGreen CHECKLIST that guides the Owner/Builder or General Contractor in order to meet the MANDATORY MEASURES.  These Mandatory Measures require several field verification site visits in order to validate that the specific measures are ment during the scope of the remodel or construction project by an independent third-party entity.

One of the main responsibilities of the CALGREEN Checklist is the creation of an Owner's Operations and Materials Maintenance Manual. Contact us for details of what specific details are required.

A sample of some of the Mandatory Measures specify that:

• Proper storm water drainage and retention was managed during construction.
• Proper grading and paving was implemented to keep water away from buildings and foundations. 
• All energy efficiency standards either meet or exceed minimum standard design of the Energy Standards.
• Construction Waste & Debris Management Plan was implemented with a minimum 65% mixed-waste recycling was met.
• Proper water efficiency and conservation standards are met in all plumbing fixtures for indoor water use.
• Outdoor water use meets all MWELO (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) standards.
• An Operation and Maintenance Manual is created by the General Contractor for the Home Owner by the time of final inspection to provide them information of equipment specifications installed in their home and how to maintain it.
• Information of Enviornmental Quality and VOCs (Volitle Off-gas Compounds) installed in the home (adhesives, caulking, paints, sealants, glues, etc.) have met the minimum VOC Limits.
• Interior moisture control.
• Creation of a database of all Contractors and subcontractors who have worked on the construction project.
• Bathroom exhaust fans with an exhaust that terminates to the outside.
• HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems are properly designed and tested prior to final inspection.

A CALGreen Special Inspector typically fills out the CALGreen CHECKLIST and signs the form prior to Final Building Permit submittal as proof that all requirements have been met. Then, prior to Final Inspection, the CALGreen Special Inspector signs and validates the form again indicating that all Mandatory Measures have been met. The final signed CALGreen CHECKLIST then is submitted to the Building Inspector at the time of Final Inspection.

It is important that the Owner and General Contractor hire a CALGreen Special Inspector prior to begining their remodel or new construction project so that proper construction planning takes place. The CALGreen CHECKLIST needs to be submitted and signed by the CALGreen Special Inspector then all plans are submitted to the Planning Dept. to obatin the project Building Permit.  NOTE:  The signed CALGreen Checklist must be printed on all approved DRAWINGS set prior submission to the local city or county building department. 

J R CONSTRUCTION - SOL SOLUTIONS, Inc. is a qualified CALGreen Special Inspector [ICC Lic. #8257159] and provides Architects, Home Owners and/or General Contracor with the necessary site verification during the scope of construction and signs off at the end of the project prior to Final Inspection guaranteeing that the mandatory measure were met.

For more information about ECC Ratings, or to schedule a free phone consultation today, contact us here!